FrostyBanjo - Posted - 04/11/2022:  13:11:38

This is a general discussion and any input is appreciated. I'm new to banjo but have experience with 6 and 12 string guitar, 4 and 5 string bass, alto and baritone saxophone, piano, and percussion. A couple of questions that I have are rather basic but as far as tuning goes are there any specific to certain styles or do most play off a standard tuning? Also looking for good beginner songs to learn any genre is ok with me I'm very open. I have a 5 string banjo if that matters like I said im very new to this so any and all advice and information is helpful.

banjered - Posted - 04/11/2022:  13:23:36

Go to media/jukebox to the left of this page and listen to what style rings your bell. Then go from there. banjered

steveh_2o - Posted - 04/11/2022:  13:33:30

I'm an Ole Time guy, so that's really all I know. My perspective is going to be pretty narrow.



I mostly use two tunings. Standard open G, and Double C. Capo on 2 and spike on 7 so I have G,A, C and D tuning without a ton of effort.



On the occasion I'm at a jam where the key changes on every other tune and you have the "b flat" guys and such.. I have a banjo with extra spikes and I mostly keep it in in G tuning. Most of these type things I have been to are mostly guitar orchestras with not a lot of understanding or sympathy for a novice banjo player's key change difficulties.

Texasbanjo - Posted - 04/11/2022:  14:21:06

Usually you can keep your 5 string tuned in open G and use a capo for other keys and that's regardless of what genre of music you are playing. I'm sure there are exceptions, but that's a general rule you can follow.

As far as song to learn, how about trying to pick out songs you already know from playing your other instruments? You already know the key, the chords and the melody, so noodle away and see what happens. Or.... listen to some of the songs on our jukebox and see what appeals to you, then figure out what genre it is and go for more songs in that style

If you do find a particular genre that is what you want to play, then ask questions about it on the appropriate forum(s).

Whatever you decide, have fun and enjoy your banjo picking.

beegee - Posted - 04/11/2022:  15:53:10

In old-time music, many banjo pickers will often tune to a specific chord, either for ease of playing or for a specific voicing of the tune.

In anything else, G is the usual tuning and other keys are achieved via capo. Notable exceptions would be D tuning or C tuning. Best thing is to learn the Nashville Numbering system and use it to transpose if needed. The capo is your friend, but you need to learn that there are different ways to play progressions with it.

Edited by - beegee on 04/11/2022 15:53:53

Bill Rogers - Posted - 04/11/2022:  21:13:50

First, decide what kind of music you want to play. You’ll find that different genres require different banjos, and likely different tunings even for the same kind of banjo. That’s very important. Check back with more specific questions once you know where you’e headed.

Pick-A-Lick - Posted - 04/12/2022:  05:26:22

Hi Tyler,

I have a musical background also (5+ decades), trumpet, percussion, bass guitar, jazz guitar, round neck resonator, 12 string, etc. I also possess some ragged piano skills. Here are a couple of things that were helpful to me when when the banjo bug bit:

1) Guitar skills that I had mastered such as hammer-ones, pull-offs, slides, trills, string bending, and the like are applicable, as well as using fingerpicks like on my resonator guitar. Just this was huge in reducing the learning curve. I trust you possess all or some of these same skills.

2) I play Scruggs style banjo with a nod to old masters Earl Scruggs, Don Reno and players of their era as well as some if the more contemporary players like Béla Fleck and others, where open G banjo tuning is very prevalent. That said, Open G tuning on banjo; g D G B D (with the short 5th string, g used mostly as an unfretted drone), is the same as the top four strings of the guitar standard tuning D G B E with the exception of the high E string dropped one step to D on banjo. This gives the guitar player a huge leg up when coming to banjo because with a first string fingering adjustment, all of the chords you already knee can be readily played in Open G on banjo.

3) Seasoned players such as yourself understand music theory, the aspects of good timing, and the importance what to practice, when to practice, and how practice makes perfect.



FWIW, I recommend the book "Banjo For Dummies" or "Bluegrass Banjo For Dummies" by Bill Evans. It's a great resource and perfect for a self starter. Pretty much everything you need to know is right there including songs to play, how to play backup, tips on banjo maintenance, and all the rest. 



As others have stated, listen to some banjo music and decide what style you are most attracted to and proceed from there. Or, learn several styles all on the same banjo. 



Good luck on your journey!

Edited by - Pick-A-Lick on 04/12/2022 05:33:24

Richard Hauser - Posted - 04/12/2022:  08:25:27

Will you be playing alone or with others ? There are different types of banjos and different styles of banjo playing. If I played alone and/or liked to sing while I played, I would learn to play clawhammer banjo. Clawhammer style is played for "old time" music. If you plan on playing with others, check out local jams and see what type of music is played, and which style of banjo playing will required.

Don't neglect that bass. IMHO, bass players are the most essential and underappreciated musicians. They get tunes started. maintain tempo, "flag" chord changes, and let players know when a tune is ending. What is more important than those things ?

FrostyBanjo - Posted - 04/12/2022:  15:49:45

Thanks for all the feedback I really appreciate reading all the comments. If anyone cares I'll be learning the theme song from The Last of Us 2 as my first song. Seems pretty easy and has a really dark tone to it. Here's a link to it for anyone interested.

youtu.be/CJcfp1o2gQU

I may have to revise it my own way because of the 5 string but definitely want to learn that.